Glasstec. Glasstec is the best for frameless shower enclosures which are sleek and clean. Glasstec uses thick glass 3/8” to 1/2″ which is very thick glass with mitered edges instead of plastic seals. Glasstec specializes in two types of shower door enclosures; solid brass or anodized aluminum. Both brass and aluminum finishes can come in a variety of styles and colors. They are also available in a variety of layouts whether standard, corner, or custom.

Centec. Centec specializes in frameless and semi-frameless shower enclosures. Frames are available in brass, aluminum, and nickel finishes, as well as a number of color choices. Centec comes standard with towel bars without extra cost. Centec is a more economical option for shower door enclosures than Glasstec.

Brassline. Brassline has been the industry leader for framed enclosures. Brassline is available in nine finishes, such as polished chrome, antique brass, and brushed nickel. There are also numerous glass options and paint finish options, making Brassline the most customizable framed shower enclosure.

Lucette. If shopping for a framed shower enclosure on a budget, Lucette is the best option. Lucette uses anodized aluminum instead of heavy gauge brass. There are three available types of anodized finishes; gold, nickel, and silver, and over 18 colors to coordinate with your shower space. Systems can be designed to fit any size or type of enclosure.

So when purchasing shower door enclosures, there are a few considerations everyone must cover. First, what is the budget? Decide early to save time and money. Then, framed or frameless? Both add elegance and value to an existing rest. And finally, customization. All shower door enclosure brands have many finishes, colors, and options. It is all depends on your own personal needs and wants.

It’s no wonder then, that remodeling trends for bathrooms have been doing flips and turns faster than the water going down in your toilet. And more spectacularly, too.

The bathroom has become a proper room in the home, much like a bedroom or a library. Bathroom remodeling has become a much more involved process that takes into account, rather seriously, the varying needs of the people using the space and the various design elements that can be incorporated into the space.

Here are some things that are changing and that you too, with a bit of planning, can change in your own bathroom:

Bigger bathrooms:
Bathrooms are getting bigger and bigger. People are knocking down walls to give themselves more room in the space, making it a veritable room instead of the traditional closet like space that we have gotten used to entering sideways and exiting as quickly as possible. People in older homes are knocking down walls to make room while those building new houses plan ahead for a larger bathroom space.

Fancier appliances:
More room lets you explore the space more. People have been making the best of the larger areas and there has been a surge in high end appliances. Not only is there more room for them, but the appliances are getting affordable, accessible, and people are starting to view them as an essential part of the bathroom rather than as a luxury. This includes steam and jet showers, whirlpools, Jacuzzis, bathroom furniture and cabinetry, to name a few.

Less limiting designs:
The options open to someone remodeling their bathroom are limitless. Part of this comes from the new found perception that bathrooms can be aesthetically and stylistically interesting places and people’s newfound willingness to make them so. But new materials, like specially treated, water resistant hardwood flooring, paint, lighting options, furniture, cabinetry and hardware appropriate for the bathroom and specially designed for it have made their way onto the market. For example, while most people still opt for traditional, porcelain, white sinks in the bathroom, there are many other options available, like colored glass bowls, antique-looking ceramic bowls and even stainless steel bowls. Additionally, vanity designs span the entire spectrum from antique designs to the ultra contemporary. New flooring options can also transform the space completely. The addition of color and mixing of materials in the bathroom are both on the rise as well.

Easy does it:
Bathroom remodeling is easier than ever. There are tools on the internet that let you roughly design your new space and go from there, establishing a more detailed palette. There is also a plethora of remodeling companies that offer free bathroom remodel estimates in your home to help you plan and visualize the renovation you want to accomplish and help you figure out the most efficient and effective way to transform the space.

The bathroom has evolved from a simple necessity in the home to a retreat, where people are spending more and more time relaxing and regenerating. Bathroom designs have followed suit, growing more elaborate and comfortable while at the same time acquiring an aesthetic flare all of their own.

Similarly, the types of colors that you’re like – along with the overall brightness of your bathroom – can determine whether you look for brightly colored accessories or those that are muted in color. Finally, there’s your personality, or the personality of the person who will be using the bathroom the most.

In general, there are four styles that are commonly used when accessorizing the bathroom – classy, muted, bright and fun.

In a classy bathroom, you may find yourself choosing bath accessories in muted colors, perhaps with a subtle floral tone. Toilet seat covers, towels, bath mats as wall as bath accessories for the counter – a soap dish or soap pump, a toothbrush holder and such – can all be coordinated with the shower curtain. You may start with a shower curtain that is a neutral color like beige with a rose colored embellishment and match the other bath accessories to the rose shade.

If instead you were trying to create a muted look in your bathroom, you’re likely to choose soft tones as well, but rather than a floral look, you may choose slightly more modern bath accessories like those that you might find at a spa retreat. Muted shades of green or blue, natural colors that resemble stone or clay are all good base colors for your bathroom. Consider a solid color shower curtain or one that is patchwork – squares of complementary colors. Choose a matching bath rug, bath towels, a toilet seat to match and simple chrome plated bath accessories.

Alternately, if bright, modern colors appeal to you, you’ll find that bright, single colored shower curtains, window dressings, bath towels and shower mats can create a crisp, modern look. From using a number of different bright, solid colors in your bathroom to choosing the same pieces that feature bright colors in geometric patters or simple stripes, you’ll find that you are able to bring the look of your bathroom together, to create a bright theme even if the items don’t necessarily match.

Using blocks of color can be fun, but for some it’s just not fun enough. Whether you’re accessorizing the bathroom for kids or just for those who are young at heart, sometimes you just feel playful. You may make the choice to use a bright, aquarium theme for your bathroom – tropical fish on the shower curtain, bright towels with a wave-like geometric pattern, a fish shaped bath mat or even an acrylic toilet seat designed to look like a fish bowl (complete with colorful fish). You might choose dolphins, or even cartoon characters as the central theme for your bathroom.

For example, someone who still carries a fondness for Betty Boop may decide to use the character as a theme for his or her bathroom. A Betty Boop shower curtain and bath accessories set with a toothbrush holder, a trash can and a soap dish could be used with red or black towels and a red or black bath mat and toilet seat.

Of course, these aren’t the only four styles for a bathroom; whatever your interests are, whatever inspires you, that’s going to be the foundation for decorating your bathroom. Whether you choose colorful flowers, solid colors, muted tones or something altogether different – a clean, modern look using all white for example – it’s the small details that bring it all together. Choosing bath towels that don’t quite fit in with your chosen color scheme, combining an aquarium theme toilet seat with a bamboo shower curtain: these things simply don’t create a cohesive look.

Fortunately, it’s easy to find bath accessories that will allow you to bring the whole look together – that is, once you decide what kind of look and feel you are looking to create.

Glasstec. Glasstec is the best for frameless shower enclosures which are sleek and clean. Glasstec uses thick glass 3/8” to 1/2″ which is very thick glass with mitered edges instead of plastic seals. Glasstec specializes in two types of shower door enclosures; solid brass or anodized aluminum. Both brass and aluminum finishes can come in a variety of styles and colors. They are also available in a variety of layouts whether standard, corner, or custom.

Centec. Centec specializes in frameless and semi-frameless shower enclosures. Frames are available in brass, aluminum, and nickel finishes, as well as a number of color choices. Centec comes standard with towel bars without extra cost. Centec is a more economical option for shower door enclosures than Glasstec.

Brassline. Brassline has been the industry leader for framed enclosures. Brassline is available in nine finishes, such as polished chrome, antique brass, and brushed nickel. There are also numerous glass options and paint finish options, making Brassline the most customizable framed shower enclosure.

Lucette. If shopping for a framed shower enclosure on a budget, Lucette is the best option. Lucette uses anodized aluminum instead of heavy gauge brass. There are three available types of anodized finishes; gold, nickel, and silver, and over 18 colors to coordinate with your shower space. Systems can be designed to fit any size or type of enclosure.

So when purchasing shower door enclosures, there are a few considerations everyone must cover. First, what is the budget? Decide early to save time and money. Then, framed or frameless? Both add elegance and value to an existing rest. And finally, customization. All shower door enclosure brands have many finishes, colors, and options. It is all depends on your own personal needs and wants.

It’s no wonder then, that remodeling trends for bathrooms have been doing flips and turns faster than the water going down in your toilet. And more spectacularly, too.

The bathroom has become a proper room in the home, much like a bedroom or a library. Bathroom remodeling has become a much more involved process that takes into account, rather seriously, the varying needs of the people using the space and the various design elements that can be incorporated into the space.

Here are some things that are changing and that you too, with a bit of planning, can change in your own bathroom:

Bigger bathrooms:
Bathrooms are getting bigger and bigger. People are knocking down walls to give themselves more room in the space, making it a veritable room instead of the traditional closet like space that we have gotten used to entering sideways and exiting as quickly as possible. People in older homes are knocking down walls to make room while those building new houses plan ahead for a larger bathroom space.

Fancier appliances:
More room lets you explore the space more. People have been making the best of the larger areas and there has been a surge in high end appliances. Not only is there more room for them, but the appliances are getting affordable, accessible, and people are starting to view them as an essential part of the bathroom rather than as a luxury. This includes steam and jet showers, whirlpools, Jacuzzis, bathroom furniture and cabinetry, to name a few.

Less limiting designs:
The options open to someone remodeling their bathroom are limitless. Part of this comes from the new found perception that bathrooms can be aesthetically and stylistically interesting places and people’s newfound willingness to make them so. But new materials, like specially treated, water resistant hardwood flooring, paint, lighting options, furniture, cabinetry and hardware appropriate for the bathroom and specially designed for it have made their way onto the market. For example, while most people still opt for traditional, porcelain, white sinks in the bathroom, there are many other options available, like colored glass bowls, antique-looking ceramic bowls and even stainless steel bowls. Additionally, vanity designs span the entire spectrum from antique designs to the ultra contemporary. New flooring options can also transform the space completely. The addition of color and mixing of materials in the bathroom are both on the rise as well.

Easy does it:
Bathroom remodeling is easier than ever. There are tools on the internet that let you roughly design your new space and go from there, establishing a more detailed palette. There is also a plethora of remodeling companies that offer free bathroom remodel estimates in your home to help you plan and visualize the renovation you want to accomplish and help you figure out the most efficient and effective way to transform the space.

The bathroom has evolved from a simple necessity in the home to a retreat, where people are spending more and more time relaxing and regenerating. Bathroom designs have followed suit, growing more elaborate and comfortable while at the same time acquiring an aesthetic flare all of their own.

Similarly, the types of colors that you’re like – along with the overall brightness of your bathroom – can determine whether you look for brightly colored accessories or those that are muted in color. Finally, there’s your personality, or the personality of the person who will be using the bathroom the most.

In general, there are four styles that are commonly used when accessorizing the bathroom – classy, muted, bright and fun.

In a classy bathroom, you may find yourself choosing bath accessories in muted colors, perhaps with a subtle floral tone. Toilet seat covers, towels, bath mats as wall as bath accessories for the counter – a soap dish or soap pump, a toothbrush holder and such – can all be coordinated with the shower curtain. You may start with a shower curtain that is a neutral color like beige with a rose colored embellishment and match the other bath accessories to the rose shade.

If instead you were trying to create a muted look in your bathroom, you’re likely to choose soft tones as well, but rather than a floral look, you may choose slightly more modern bath accessories like those that you might find at a spa retreat. Muted shades of green or blue, natural colors that resemble stone or clay are all good base colors for your bathroom. Consider a solid color shower curtain or one that is patchwork – squares of complementary colors. Choose a matching bath rug, bath towels, a toilet seat to match and simple chrome plated bath accessories.

Alternately, if bright, modern colors appeal to you, you’ll find that bright, single colored shower curtains, window dressings, bath towels and shower mats can create a crisp, modern look. From using a number of different bright, solid colors in your bathroom to choosing the same pieces that feature bright colors in geometric patters or simple stripes, you’ll find that you are able to bring the look of your bathroom together, to create a bright theme even if the items don’t necessarily match.

Using blocks of color can be fun, but for some it’s just not fun enough. Whether you’re accessorizing the bathroom for kids or just for those who are young at heart, sometimes you just feel playful. You may make the choice to use a bright, aquarium theme for your bathroom – tropical fish on the shower curtain, bright towels with a wave-like geometric pattern, a fish shaped bath mat or even an acrylic toilet seat designed to look like a fish bowl (complete with colorful fish). You might choose dolphins, or even cartoon characters as the central theme for your bathroom.

For example, someone who still carries a fondness for Betty Boop may decide to use the character as a theme for his or her bathroom. A Betty Boop shower curtain and bath accessories set with a toothbrush holder, a trash can and a soap dish could be used with red or black towels and a red or black bath mat and toilet seat.

Of course, these aren’t the only four styles for a bathroom; whatever your interests are, whatever inspires you, that’s going to be the foundation for decorating your bathroom. Whether you choose colorful flowers, solid colors, muted tones or something altogether different – a clean, modern look using all white for example – it’s the small details that bring it all together. Choosing bath towels that don’t quite fit in with your chosen color scheme, combining an aquarium theme toilet seat with a bamboo shower curtain: these things simply don’t create a cohesive look.

Fortunately, it’s easy to find bath accessories that will allow you to bring the whole look together – that is, once you decide what kind of look and feel you are looking to create.